Shanghai Metro Ticket

Ticket Type

Shanghai metro adopts the following five types of tickets:

1. Single Journey TicketIt is a thin IC card which is endowed with a certain sum of money depending on the destination you choose. It can be bought at a ticket dispenser or from a ticket booth. The metro system has introduced electronic ticketing so you should carry some change. A single journey ticket can be used only one time on the day you buy it within the subway lines and stations you choose. It should be returned at your destination station and recycled in the ticket system.

2. Shanghai Public Transportation CardThe Card is convenient to pay the metro fare. It can be used not only on the metro, but also on some public buses, ferryboats and even taxies. It is common for the new users to pay CNY 100 for the card, including a CNY 20 deposit and CNY 80 for use. The card can be used repeatedly and you can deposit more money in it at designated metro stations, bus stations, banks or stores.

3. Souvenir TicketFor visitors, a souvenir ticket is a good choice. It is valid for one year and can be bought at several designated subway stations. You can only take the train once on certain lines. When getting out of the station, it will be returned to you as a souvenir.

4. One-day Travel PassIt has been introduced for Shanghai subway since Expo 2010. The pass is sold CNY18 and could be purchased at any ticket booths set at these metro stations. With this pass, passenger could take all the city's metro lines without limit in 24 hours after the first use. This pass is not required to be returned after use so passenger could keep it as a souvenir.

5. Three-day Travel PassIt has been used since March, 2012. The pass is sold CNY45 and could be purchased at any ticket booths set at these metro stations. With this pass, passenger could take all the metro lines without limit in 72 hours after the first use. This pass is not required to be returned after use so passenger could keep it as a souvenir.

6. Maglev & Metro PassThis pass has been issued since May 23, 2013. There are two versions. The Maglev Single Trip + Metro One-day Pass costs CNY 55 and allows passengers to take a single maglev trip (economy class) and unlimited metro rides within 24 hours after the first use. The Maglev Round Trip + Metro One-day Pass costs CNY 85 and allows passengers to take a maglev round-trip (economy class) and unlimited metro rides within 24 hours after the first use. The pass is available at both the maglev stations of Pudong International Airport and Longyang Rd. as well as some major metro stations like T2 of Hongqiao International Airport, Hongqiao Railway Station, South Railway Station, Railway Station, People’ Square and Jing’an Temple, etc. After use, the card will not be recycled and passengers can keep it as a souvenir.

Metro Ticket Machine

Notes:1. Ticket issuing is stopped three minutes before the departure time of the last train;2. Go to Shanghai Metro Guidance to know how to buy a ticket.

Ticket Fare

Shanghai metro adopts a 'one-ticket transfer' system. You can take a single subway line or transfer to other lines at some major transfer stations such as People's Square, South Railway Station, Indoor Stadium, Xinzhuang, Zhongshan Park, Century Avenue and South Xizang Rd. A through ticket can be bought at your starting station. The charge is proportional to mileage with a ceiling price of CNY 9. A subway trip between two stations in downtown usually costs no more than CNY 6. The following table shows the fare of single metro lines and transfer among different lines.

0~4mi (0~6km)

4~10mi (6~16km)

above 10mi (16km)

Line 5

CNY 2

CNY 3

CNY 1 for each extra 4mi (6km)

All Lines Except Line 5

CNY 3

CNY 4

CNY 1 for each extra 6mi (10km)

Transfer Among Lines

CNY 3

CNY 4

CNY 1 for each extra 6mi (10km)

Metro passengers can have a discount if they pay the fare by Public Transportation Card. If you have pay the subway fare by the card over CNY 70 in a month, the fare you pay in the rest of the month will be 10% off. Additionally the Card allows for once an overdraft of CNY 8. However, if the card has a zero or a negative balance, it can't be used any more.

Ticket Refund

Unused tickets can be refunded in the issuing station on the issuing day. Used tickets can not be refunded whether you have used up the balance or not.

Hi. Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I want to make sure! If I buy a Maglev Round Trip + Metro One-day Pass, must BOTH the Maglev trips be made within 24 hours? Or is the 24 hours just for the metro? Thanks in advance!

Answers (2)

Answered by Walter from AUSTRALIA | Sep. 11, 2019 20:29

00Reply

The ticket of maglev round trip is valid for 7 days. And one day metro card is valid for 24 hours.

Answered by V from UNITED KINGDOM | Sep. 12, 2019 03:36

00Reply

Thank you very much!

Asked by Darren Rowan from IRELAND | Sep. 05, 2019 05:47Reply

Can the Shanghai Public Transportation Card be returned at Pudong Airport

for a refund of any remaining value and cost of card?

Answers (1)

Answered by Alice from FINLAND | Sep. 05, 2019 19:02

00Reply

Yes, you can return it at the metro station inside the airport. And you can get your refund.

Asked by Giuseppe from ITALY | Sep. 02, 2019 02:16Reply

Three days pass from/to Shanghai Hongqiao airport

Hallo I will stay six days in Shanghai and my hotel in near Hongqiao airport, so I'm planning to commute every day to and from the city is that allowed with this pass ? is it allowed also on fast train "bullet" if any last question is price still CNY 45 ?

Thank you so much and kind regards

Answers (1)

Answered by Gabriel from USA | Sep. 04, 2019 18:38

00Reply

Does your three-day pass refer to metro card? Then you need to buy two cards in six days so you can commute to and from airport and downtown. This three day card costs CNY45 and it can't be used on bullet train. You can use the Ordinary Transportation Card to take the Magelv Train.

Asked by Catherine Chen from CANADA | Aug. 28, 2019 19:13Reply

Is Shanghai 3 day pass sold at cruise terminal on Baoyang?

I arrive Shanghai by cruise ship on Baoyang road international cruise terminal. Is there metro day pass sold there?